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22
Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle www.mn.catholic.org.au
LAST WORD
BEING A PARENT is the most
important role one can undertake.
Often parents need ideas and
resources in order to face the challenges
of parenting in the modern world. Michael
Grose's website, "Parenting Ideas -- Raising
exceptional kids", is a wonderful source
of advice for parents and helps them
tackle issues such as building confidence
and resilience in children, achieving best
behaviours, raising boys, sibling rivalry, the
adolescent years and bullying.
The website gives access to blogs on a
variety of topics, YouTube clips of past
seminars, a calendar of upcoming events
and seminars and access to the Parenting
Ideas magazine containing articles from
other parenting and education experts.
Michael Grose has a background in
education and has written eight parenting
books, presents seminars to parents and
teachers, has a regular segment on ABC
radio, writes a newspaper column and
makes appearances on TV talk shows.
His conversational, down to earth and at
times humorous approach to important
issues means his advice is both practical
and well received.
Another useful component of this website
is the section for teachers. It contains
resources for schools and teachers on
how to work with parents for the best
outcomes for children. It would be a
useful exercise for parents to read the
teacher section but also for teachers to
read the section for parents.
Michael Grose's research names
"confidence, character and resilience" as
the three most important skills to instil
in children. So now that the new school
year has begun, if you, too, find the
development of these skills important,
why not take some time to benefit from
the wisdom of others to help you with your
most important role -- being a parent?
www.parentingideas.com.au
THIS BOOK IS a treasure, small but
brimming with richness and easy-
to-read hints on how to cultivate
contentment in your life through
"simplicity, gratitude and compassion".
Robert J Wicks is an American
psychologist who travels the world
offering professional care and talks to
a great variety of groups. He has had
previous books and papers published,
but the major difference here is an
insight into his personal life; growing up
in New York but spending his summer
holidays each year on his uncle's farm.
The many lessons he learned during
these long breaks gave him a wealth
of wisdom which has guided him
throughout life. Here he highlights these
experiences and combines his individual
story with his professional vocation.
This excellent information and his
perception have been passed on to
readers. His introduction gives a
'nutshell' outline of his life. Then short
chapters cover much ground on an
array of topics. At the conclusion of
each section, he writes a succinct and
beneficial review piece.
Doing Nothing
Often I get a bit down with the
unrelenting 'busy-ness' that seems to
catch me inadvertently. Sometimes I
yearn to have a week off and just do
'nothing'. I dream of filling my 'week off'
days with 'nothingness' - doing 'nothing',
thinking 'nothing' and so on. Then I
strangely feel I might really be achieving
something! What is this .....?
Nouwen has something to offer me and
those who have similar yearnings:
Our minds are always active. We analyse,
reflect, daydream, or dream. There is not
a moment during the day or night when
we are not thinking. You might say our
thinking is 'unceasing.' Sometimes we
wish that we could stop
thinking for a while; that would save us
from many worries, guilt feelings, and
fears. Our ability to think is our greatest
gift, but it is also the source of our
greatest pain. Do we have to become
victims of our unceasing thoughts? No,
we can convert our unceasing thinking
into unceasing prayer by making our
inner monologue into a continuing
dialogue with our God, who is the source
of all love.
Let's break out of our isolation and
realise that Someone who dwells in the
centre of our beings wants to listen with
love to all that occupies and preoccupies
our minds.
Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey -- Reflections
for Every Day of the Year. Dar ton, Longman and Todd,
London, 1996.
Robert Wicks also takes the reader into
a personally led 30 day country 'retreat'.
Each day offers a distinct reading and
guidance theme to create spiritual
improvement and greater contentment
in life.
Streams of Contentment not only teaches
inner peace, but is also strewn with
stories of Robert's travels and the
people he has met; always with an
underlying message in the narrative.
On the cover sleeve, Richard Rohr OFM
says, "This is commonsense spirituality
that unfortunately is no longer common
sense." We are fortunate that Robert
Wicks has passed on his common sense:
through these pages he empowers
readers with strength, gentleness, peace
and fulfilment.
Streams of Contentment was published
by Ave Maria Press in 2011.
By MARGARET WALKER
By TRISH BOGAN
Compiled by DR JOHN AND CHRISTINE CAVENAGH
Aurora provided some diversion on Christmas Day on the north side of Mount
Everest (Mount Qomolangma in Tibetan) Base Camp for these intrepid travellers!
If you have a photograph that you would like to be considered for Aurora,
please ensure it is high resolution (300dpi). E aurora@mn.catholic.org.au